When it "Leaks" it Pours

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is housed in a vintage YMCA building built in 1930. This place has been our home since 1971. It has served us well these past 46 years, but it is beginning to show its age. Mitigating factors are:

• The overnight population has nearly doubled since 2008 - from an average of 63 overnight stays to 119 in fiscal year 2016.
• Two years ago, we closed our warehouse and administrative office building in a move to become more fiscally responsible. That means we moved all necessary functions to this one building, therefore increasing the demands and usage on our facilities.

In an earlier post we showed a portion of the ceiling that was crumbling in one of our offices. Today we found that a valve had decided "let loose"
within one of our walls. This requires once again breaking walls, dealing with old plaster, concrete and pipes. To quote Shakespeare, our grand old building is beginning to "shuffle off this mortal coil."

This is more indication that we need to "Move our Mission." Help is greatly appreciated.

Snap Shot

The population of people experiencing homelessness in the United States is determined by a point-in-time count, conducted on a given day each January. Obviously, this is not a scientific sampling and presents only a snap shot of a particular day that may or may not be indicative of the actual situation. However, the survey does say something and federal and state agencies use these numbers to determine funding allocations for their various agencies.

The most recent point-in-time count shows that, while the number of individuals who experience homelessness evidences a decrease in the state, there is actually an increase in several communities, including Youngstown. This certainly is the experience here at the Rescue Mission. While the federal government has put initiatives into action that aim to end homelessness, we have found that the numbers in the Mahoning Valley have increased. In 2008, the Mission saw and average of 60 people who sought shelter with us. In 2016, that number more than doubled to 130!

Regardless of trends, statistics and surveys, there will always be the need for the Rescue Mission. If we have learned anything in our 124 year history, we have learned that people are broken and often seek spiritual and emotional healing. Because of this, we
 bring the gospel to bear on every life and situation. And it matters little to us if we speak to 60 or to 130.

Change

In anticipation of our 125th anniversary year in 2018, we are compiling information to trace the history of our Mission. One important feature has emerged: over the century and a quarter of our existence, the Mission has sought to minister to the changing needs of our culture. What began as an outreach to teach English and basic academic skills to immigrant children and their families, has now become an emergency overnight shelter that ministers to men, women, and children in crisis situations, including mental health issues, substance abuse, economic disadvantages, and a host of other situations.

One thing we have learned - and are still learning - is that we cannot do ministry "the way it's always been done." While our core values and statement of faith do not change, our methods must. This was recently brought home by this passage in a commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes. Douglas Sean O'Donnell is the author of this volume in the Reformed Expository Commentary. Commenting on Eccl. 7:8-9, O'Donnell writes:

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this (Eccl. 7:10). To paraphrase, "Ah, the good old days! When I was a boy, gas was a nickel a gallon and young men wore their trousers above their bottoms, not below." Nostalgia of this sort nauseates Pastor Solomon, for he knows, as we all should know, that each age has its own opportunities and challenges, and we cannot face the challenges of our age by pining after another. Such praise of the past prove our impatience with the present. So let's come down from our pride-in-the-past pedestal (v.8) and give today's generation a shot. You never know, "the end of a thing" might be better than its beginning" (v.8).

What will the issues be if we are allotted another 125 years of existence? Whatever they may be, our prayer is that we are flexible enough to meet those needs in an efficient, God-honoring way.

The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling

At least that's what it felt like when another piece of the ceiling fell in the Development Office. This is where the daily mail is opened and the donations are processed. Had this piece of plaster fallen 30 minutes later, Sandy, one of our long serving, faithful volunteers, would be washing plaster dust from her hair.

Here is but another indication that we need to "Move Our Mission." This latest mishap did not result from wild parties and heavy dancing on the floor above. It is simply a by-product of the age and strain upon this grand old building. Formerly a YMCA whose construction was completed in 1930, these facilities have served us well since 1971. We have the opportunity to construct a new building to meet the needs of the population we serve. You can be involved in this and help us ""Move Our Mission" by following the link.